Good article from Information Week.

Here are the key points of reflection:

1. Gen Y places emphasis on information and security vs. usability (again Gen Y is practical)

2. Gen Y prefer email and text messaging (although the folks we interviewed said there was more weight on IMing)

3. Gen Y work to live vs. Live to Work (again, this is commented on a lot in our book)

4. Gen Y enjoys job flexiblity

5. For Gen Y…Vacation, retirement, education and compresed workweeks are important.

By K.C. Jones
InformationWeek
November 30, 2007 04:25 PM

Generation Y workers in the federal workforce are likely weigh the ability to telecommute as part of their job selection, according to a recent study.Telework Exchange recently polled people in the Defense Information Systems Agency IT internship program on their priorities, challenges, communication, and workplace culture. The group announced the poll results this week.

Telework Exchange found that the interns place a high priority on information security and balancing security against usability. They also place a high priority on knowledge management.

They identified several key challenges, including technology becoming obsolete by the time it’s implemented, cost cutting as a mode of operation in the federal government, and difficulty gaining experience because of outsourcing.

The interns’ preferred methods of communication include e-mail and text messaging, the study found. Their preferred tool for accessing information is Google (NSDQ: GOOG), with Gen Y workers rarely seeking information in print publications.

The study defines Generation Y as the 70 million people born between 1977 and 2002. Many of them are entering the workforce now.

The study found that the group works to live, rather than living to work. It also characterized the group as largely mobile, expecting frequent job changes, enjoying new assignments, and desiring flexibility.

Vacation, retirement, educational stipends and compressed workweeks or telecommuting options are key perks, according to the study. Participants told pollsters that telecommuting is and should be a priority. They indicated strong support from top leaders and mixed support from middle managers.

The average age of those polled is 26. All have bachelor’s degrees, while half have their master’s degrees.

 At Intuit, we have a great little program called the Rotational Development Programmer (RDP), which provides college grads a 2 year training program, where they are exposed to different areas of the company. What I like about it is that it provides a lot of info on our customers, our products and how to run a small business. Not a bad thing for someone who who just wants to learn about business or even wants to be an entrepreneur someday and run their own gig. Some key points of reflection about the program

• Enables Gen Yers to learn ‘on-the-job’
• Enables to partner with strong leaders (in a mentor type of relationship)
• Enables Intuit to learn from Gen Yers (about technology and more
• Enables Gen Yers to have an impact right out of the gate (right out of school)

Millennial Leaders:  Success Stories From Today’s Most Brilliant Generation Y Leaders.

“The millennial generation’s leading edge — 24- to 26-year-olds — has finally arrived in many M.B.A. programs, especially those that have started admitting younger applicants. M.B.A. Track columnist Ron Alsop recently interviewed Daphne Atkinson, vice president for industry relations at the Graduate Management Admission Council, about the millennial generation’s career interests, its likely impact in the workplace, and how business schools and the council are adjusting to the millennials — and their parents”.

Get the full article here:

http://online.wsj.com/article_print/SB119672143267712295.html 

Millennial Leaders:  Success Stories From Today’s Most Brilliant Generation Y Leaders.

Great article in USA Today for Dec. 5:  Dr. Jean Twenge, who is featured in Chapter 2 of Millennial Leaders is quoted in the article.

Our Gold Star World

“The education elite have redefined what it means to be ‘educated.’ If a child is ignorant of facts, dates and figures, no problem. The emphasis now is on self-esteem and ‘just being you.’ That’s much easier than learning”.

Read the full article here.

Pick up a copy of Millennial Leaders to read Jean Twenge’s views in Chapter 2.